title: Exploring the effects of isothiocyanates on chemotherapeutic drugs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemoprevention has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce the risk and to control cancer. In this context, isothiocyanates (ITCs), found in abundance in the form of glucosinolates in cruciferous vegetables, have gained increasing consideration for their chemopreventive activity. ITCs exert their effects mainly by inducing carcinogen metabolism or by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In recent years, novel combination treatments, by coupling chemopreventive agents and typical chemotherapeutics, have been exploited to increase the antitumor activities. The aim of this article is to examine the foremost studies carried out, so far, on the effects of dietary and synthetic ITCs on different signaling pathways involved in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of chemotherapeutic agents, in order to enhance their effectiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Undoubtedly, the beneficial anticarcinogenic potential of ITCs, both singly and in combination, has emerged in in vitro and in vivo studies. However, only a few clinical trials have been carried out so far with ITCs, which try to better define both the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic impacts in humans. More toxicological evaluations after long-term administration of ITCs in different species are required for the clinical development of ITCs as anticarcinogenic agents.
authors.affiliation: Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna , Italy +39 051 2099709 ; +39 051 2099734 ; anna.minarini@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minarini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milelli
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fimognari
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turrini
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tumiatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018890:Chemoprevention; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D018565:Food-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017879:Isothiocyanates; C037152:isothiocyanic acid